Coupling and steering device.



' A. W. HINDMAN.

GOUPLING AND STEERING DEVICE.

AIPLIUATION FILED AUG. 3, 1910.

986,568. Patented Mar. 14, 1 911.

J9 Z2 I 21 j i Z/ 27%; I Q r 1 Inventor Attorneys.

ASA W. HINDMAN, OF CHESTER, NEBRASKA.

COUPLING AND! STEERING DEVICE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Mar. 14, 1911.

Application filed August 3, 1910. Serial No. 575,237.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it knownthat I, ASA W. I-IINDMAN, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Chester, in the county of Thayer and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and useful Coupling and Steering Device, of which the following is a specification.

The device which is the subject of the present invention is designed for coupling two automobiles} together, and. for steering the hind automobile so that it will properly follow the front one, said steering mechanism being automatic in its operation, so that the services of a driver for the hind car may be dispensed with.

With these objects in view, the invention consists in a novel construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which drawing- Figure 1 is a plan view showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. .Fig. 3 is a fragment of a portion of the device showing the same connected up in another manner.

Referring specifically to the drawing, 5 denotes the hind axle of the frontautomobile which is pulling another automobile, the front axle of the latter being indicated at 6, the last mentioned automobile'being behind the first mentioned one, and-coupled thereto by the devices which will now be described.

To the axle 5 is secured by means of a U- bolt 7 a clip plate 8 from the rear face of which extend vertically-spaced ears 9 between which is pivotally mounted a block 10, the pivot 11 of said block being. vertical, so that the block is free to swing in a horizontal plane. To the block 10 is pivotally connected, as indicated at 12, a yoke 13 carried at one end of a rod 1 1, the pivot 12 being horizontal so that the yoke and the rod may swing in a vertical plane. The block is receix ed bet-ween the branches or the yoke, and the pivot 12, which maybe a pin or other suitabledevice, passes through the branches of the yoke, and that portion of the block which is located thcrebetween. The other end of the rod 14 is connected by a sleeve or other suitable form of coupling 15 to one end of a rod 16, t-he other end of which rod is connected to the axle '6 of the hind automobile. That end of the rod 16 which isadjacent to the axle 6 is curved downwardly as indicated at 17 to extend beneath the axle, and to the rear of the latter, it terminates in a vertically extending stem or extension 18. A short distance in front of'the axle 6,, the rod 16 is formed with a vertically extending stem or extension 19.

Secured to the .front and [rear sides ofthe axle 6, by means of bolts 20 are clip plates 21 and 22 respectively. -The clip plate 21 v is formed with horizontally spaced, outstanding ears 23 between which is pivoted, as indicated at 24, a block 25, the pivot being arranged horizontally so that the block is free to swing in a vertical plane. The.

block, has an aperture through which the stem 19 passes. This stem extends a short distance above the block, and on the projecting end thereof is screwed. a nut 26, whereby said stem is secured in the aperture of the block.

The steering arms of the hind automobile are indicated at 27, these arms being connected by a rod 28 as usual. To this rod is secured a clip 29 havin a stud 30 to which is connected one end 0 a rod 31, the other end of said rod being connected to the steifi 18, said rod being formed with an eye through which the stem extends. The stem extends a short distance above the eye, and on the projecting end isscrewed a nut 32 for fastening the rod to the stem.

In Fig. 1 the steering rod 28 is shown as located behind the axle 6. If the inventidn is applied to an automobile in which this rod is located in front of the axle, the parts-connecting the rod 16 to the axle will be arranged as shown in Fig. 3, the stem 18 in this instance being connected to the block 25, which locates the stem 19 in front of said block, and said stem 19- is then c0n-' nected by the rod 31 to the steering rod 28.

In operation, the arts being connected as shown in the-drawing, the hind automobile will properly follow the front one, it being automatically steered by reason of the connection 'between the coupling device and the steering. rod 28. When the front automobile is making a turn, the connecting rods the stem 18 according to which stem is connected to the block 25. The swing of the rod, thrbugh the rod 31, shifts the steering rod 28, "and through the steering arms 27 sets the wheels so that the hind automobile l t and 16 swing laterally, the axis of this swinging movement being the stem 19, or

will properly follow the front one. The

connection between the rod 14:. and the'axle 5 forms a universal joint, which enables the rods l t and 16 to swing laterally with re-.

spect to the axle-5, in either direction, and

also vertically. The same freedom of move ment for that end of' the rod 16 which is connected to the axle 6 ishad by means of the pivoted block 23 and the pivotal connection betweensaid' block and the rod. The steering of the hind automobile is entirely automatic, and the services of a driver may therefore be dispensed with. .The mechanism is simple and itcan be quickly applied, and it eflectually serves the purpose for which it is designed.

What is claimed is: I 1. A combined coupling and steering device including axle engaging members a to said extensionfortransmitting motion to a the steering wheels of a 'vehicle.

2. A connecting and steering device in eluding axle engaging members, a rigid element interposed therebetween, universal connections betweensaid element and the members, said element including an 01f set portion for extending transversely of an axle, and means attached to said element at points removed from its universal connections, for transmitting motion from said element to the steering wheels of a vehicle.

The combination with spaced. vehicles, of a coupling and steering device interposed therebetween and including separate ele ments for engaging the rear axle of one vevehicle for actuating hicle and "the front axle 0f the other vehicle, a rigid element interposed between the said means, universa1- connections'between the said element and means, erated by the movement of said element relativeto the front axle to which it is cone nected, for shifting thesteering wheels supporting said axle,

i The combination with front and rear vehicle, the rearvehicle having asteering mechanism,

of a connection between the ve hicles, said connection comprising a rod connected at one of its ends with the front vehicle, and the otherend of'saidiod hav-,

ing' spaced vertical stems, an 'apertiiredblock and means op-- carried-by the reanvehicle, in which block 'one ofthe stems is pivotally mounted, and "a connection between theothe'r stem. and the vehicle for steering mechanis m of the rear actuating said mechanisms.

' 5. The combination withthe. front and rear vehicles, the rear vehicle having a steering' mechanism, of a connection between the vehicles, said connection comprising a rod connected at one. of itsends with the front vehicle, and the other end ofsaidrod having spaced vertical'stems, an a'pertured block carried by' therear'vehi'cle, in which block one of the stems-is pivotally mounted, the block being pivoted to swing ina vertical plane, and a connection between 'the other stem and the steering mechanism of the rear said mechanism..-

In testimony that claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto. aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ASA HIBDMAN.

Witnesses: i

L. O.-SOLDAN, LURA L. HINDMAN. 

